encouraging DD 17 to stay at college this time

[Irate]

to cut a long story short, had a horrendous 2 yrs with DD, luckily she did well at her GCSE's, but then she started Alevels last year and dropped out after a few wks. We encouraged this as she was skiving from the start. In the last 6mths she has sorted herself out and has been working hard in various jobs and is helpful at home, she has decided to return to a different college in sept, how as parents do we help to ensure she sticks with it and does well its her last chance? also I want to give her an allowance to motivate her as when she is not at college we give her nothing she gives us money, how much a week would be reasonable, considering we are not well off?

Does the college have a fund for kids whose parents are on a low income? - some provide an allowance or at the least £ for books and trips, travel costs etc (the criteria is much stricter than for ema) but getting it paid each week is dependent on attendance and handing in work.

Hopefully the change of college - if she enjoys it, may be enough to motivate her.My dd1 really wanted her own laptop at college so we went half with her at Xmas when she had done well. I also think a lot of praise (rather than £) for being mature etc goes a long way with teens- they like to feel you appreciate and respect them.

good luck

thanks for the advice janesnowdon1, Im not sure if our income is low enough for any help though they are lending her an Ipad instead of travel costs as we live near to college, I will check though. Ive been praising her to high heaven since she turned her life around, I just want a bit of a financial incentive so she feels comfortable and supported while she is at college, Im going to take her shopping in august to get stationary, bag etc

don't think there is an easy answer to this tbh if she wants to stay that is great she has made her decision

i had to kick ds backside into college virtually every day for the two years - not a v enjoyable time

good luck this time around

She will take some modules in January with the results in March. Could you give her something then?

Alternatively, ask her to ask her tutor to sign something re attendance (ie "Through the month of September X has attended 100% of the lessons and has worked well.") I'm an A level lecturer and often have to do this for parents. If she gets full attendance for the month, she can have X. If she doesn't, she doesn't.

thank you ImperialBlether I would like to talk to the college, I havnt had any correspondance with them not even an invite to an open evening so that would be great if they could give me progress updates

out2lunch- that must have been a nightmare, did he do well in the end? I actively encouraged DD to leave college last year because I only wanted her to go if she wanted to (and it was obvious she had no interest at all), in case she went and did badly because she resented it and wasted 2 yrs iykwim, Im really hoping she is ready to go and do well now. fingers crossed

not sure yet irate - we are awaiting a level results

hopefully he will do well enough to go to uni - and still want to go......

Colleges usually have a Pastoral/personal Tutor role for each Curriculum area, if you could find out who this is and contact them, they will gladly update you on progress. They would also support your DD with transition. I work in a FE College and any parental interest is welcomed - in fact is quite rare so we would snatch your hand off!